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have you checked your front tie rod ends?? they can cause a thumping to be heard when they get worn enough. i have went thru 2 sets of calipers on front of the car since new. they stop releasing fully causing rotor warping(and noises), even though the caliper sliding pins are lubed properly and the brake fluid is changed every couple of years.
my mpg has fallen from a high of 42-44 on the interstate this summer to 35 or 36. suspect my o2 sensor is finally failing, even though no trouble codes are registering yet.
anyone check the coil wire(distributor cap to coil)?
the ignition is hot enough to actually burn this wire in two in time.
if you have the original ford plastic sheathed wire it can be difficult to see this phenomena.
i had an 86 with the same symptom as yours, and thats what the problem was.
as for the tfi:
is the plug for your tfi module perfectly clean or corroded?? that can short out a perfectly good tfi module in a hurry.
also the white goo that come with the module must be used generously, else the heat from the engine will get ya in short order.
is the engine temp normal??
lee
I know someone with a 94 or 95 Escort Wagon with over 200k. He changes oil every 3k.
Outside of a few burn marks and stains in carpet/seats, it appears mechanically sound. However, as I inspected the car from underneath (it was lifted at the dealer's garage) I was concerned about some black colored metal around the bottom of the engine where the transmission housing meets the engine. It looked like some sort of burn, since it was soot black and did not rub off. I also noticed a little dryish dark substance around the bottom of the transmission and suggested to the mechanic that it might have a very small transmission leak. The mechanic said not to worry about it, because the substance wasn't "wet".
Should I worry? Has anyone seen this before?
Thanks!
Could use some direction. Thanks.
If you are lying on your back, lookin up at the bottom of your engine with feet pointing out toward the front of the car, the oil drain plug will be just to your right on the back side of the oil pan (the side of the oil pan facing the rear of the car).
YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT WILEYLAURA@HOTMAIL.COM
THANKS!
Also, you may want to check with the nhtsa website, or alldata.com to see what kind of complaints, service bulletins, and recalls are listed for your 93 Escort.
For future reference, you can also find a direct link to the NHTSA's recalls and tsb's in Edmunds.com's Safety section. Good luck and please keep us posted.
Pocahontas
Host
Hatchbacks/Station Wagons Message Board
Water Pump - 77,000
Radiator - around 100k
Tie Rod Ends - 121k
Ignition - 125k
Still have the original exhaust. I replaced the original battery in November of 2000. The battery hadn't died, but why push your luck. I live in Rhode Island; didn't feel like jumping the car and then changing the old one in the cold.
I paid 8,788 for the car. Remember looking at a Corolla Wagon when I bought this car. The Toyota sticker was 16k.No one would the Toyota have been a better purchase from a cost standpoint.
From what I've heard they are reliable. Not exactly a good performer and some may consider them unrefined, but I'm not going to get rid of mine anytime soon. My A/I still works fine. Car still gets 30 to 35 MPG and I don't baby it.
If you found one that is well maintained then I wouldn't hesitate buying it. I not aware of anything to look out for.
Pocahontas
Host
Hatchbacks/Station Wagons Message Boards
is your escort unstable on the interstate when it is very windy??? my tie rods are new, new struts at 63k. the front end is tight enough to do alignments without a problem. i wonder if there is a worn spot in the power steering rack about midpoint.
if i get 200k out of my 95(currently at 87k) i would be delighted. i also commute over 100 miles per day to work.
the jumpy speedo,
mine does the wavering/noisy thing above 50mph, hot or cold. i have a replacement, waiting on the time to install it.
see you,
lee
I don't notice any problem in windy conditions, but the winds in my area are not that strong. The car is pretty light, so I guess it could get knocked around. I have always had econoboxes, so maybe I just don't notice it.
I have a 99 Escort Wagon and I am satisfied with my purchase. Here is a short list of the things I like and dislike about my car.
Likes:
1. It is small so it is easy to park and it gets good gas mileage.
2. It has a good reputation for reliability.
3. It is inexpensive to insure. (Who is going to drive this type of car aggressively?)
4. It can carry a lot of cargo.
5. The engine has adequate power.
Dislikes:
1. This car is no hot rod (only 110hp) but I guess if it was a hot rod it would not be very cheap to insure and fuel.
2. The engine is rough when it is idling and it is pretty noisy when driving at speeds above 70 mph.
3. The low-beam headlights are not that powerful on a rainy night.
4. An econobox wagon is not the ideal vehicle to own if you are a single male. :-(
(But you don't have that problem.)
mowslawn and lee,
I have felt my car pushed around by the wind on the freeway on a VERY windy day about three times in my 20 months of Escort ownership but I don't consider it a problem since it happens very infrequently.
it is nice to see the escort thread isn't completely dead.
best wishes,
lee
Thanks for reading,
on
Black = Ground
Yellow= Constant power(for clock and preset stations)
The rest are speaker wires (2 for each speaker). I forget exactly which wires go to which speaker.
Does the clip plug directly into the back of the radio? If so, maybe you can get a plug out of a junk yard and match up the wires. A lot of Fords use the radio I think you're talking about so it should be easy to find one. Hope this helps.
Pat
Pocahontas
Host
Hatchbacks/Station Wagons Message Boards
I think the check engine indicator indicates a possible problem with the emission controls. I think the computer turns this indicator on/off. It could be something very simple or something like the EGR, oxygen sensor, etc. If it continues, I would get it checked since waiting might cause damage.
mows lawn
I have never had that problem, but I can try a guess. The sealing material around the door might have a hole or break. You might be able to find this using a garden hose. The window may not close completely. Actually, my window whistles sometimes at high speed when it is not completely closed. Spray water around the edges, and see if any comes in. Then seal that place. Good luck.
mows lawn
There was a redesign in the early 90's (When the body style changed). Most people that I know who have had the newer design have had very good luck with their escorts if they took care of them. Although most of them agree that the pre 97 automatics are slugs (Get a manual transmission!) I am encountering people that have 200,000 miles on their escorts and the cars are holding up well. I wouldn't buy an escort from before that redesign.
We have had a few very minor problems and one other problem. The very minor problems were all body hardware problems such as door moulding becoming unglued, a plastic seatbelt guide broke, and the rubber shroud around the stick shift slipped down about 1/2 an inch and won't stay up. The broken seatbelt guide may have been our fault.
The other problem was that the window gear wasn't installed right and needed to be reinstalled. (The window was difficult to roll up.) This problem was quickly fixed under warranty and has been fine since. I have had to have the car aligned several times but from what I can tell most small cars are knocked out of alignment easily
I was very apprehensive about buying this car since it is the first and only econobox I have purchased (We own many other cars to compare it with.) I did a lot of research and found out that for the money they are pretty good cars. Sedans in the price range were so small that you could fill up the trunks with one baby stroller. I paid $10,900 including tax and license.
I have read that the front end design will cause some front end parts to wear sooner than in more expensive cars, but supposedly the replacement costs are not too bad.
I am not sure what other people are doing to their cars to cause the rear springs to break, but I have had no problem. However, I realize that the car is not a pick up truck. I do haul stuff (a dog, ladders, kyaks, lumber, roofing, tools, sacks of concrete) with it but I don't overload it, and I certainly don't pull anything with it. I do have all of the routine and preventative maintenance done.
I don't abuse it but don't always baby it either.
In conclusion, I have taken good care of the car and it has been very reliable, very inexpensive, and very practical, however I wouldn't want to drive across the country in it (I am over 6'1".) I would definitely buy another one as far as quality and reliability are concerned, but I probably won't, because I will get something larger when it needs replacing.
I bought a 1993 Escort wagon (AT) two month ago. It has 130,000 miles.
The car runs good but I have a problem, when I run above 60 mph and hit the auto cruise after 30 seconds the engine is loosing power. It's like the fuel supply not right in the engine and the speed decrease. I don't know why. I have replaced the fuel filter recently but it still happens again. Maybe the fuel contaminated with water in the tank?
Please give me some advices about this one.
My front windshield has some cracks, Do you know how much the cost for repair it? I live in Seattle, WA.
Thank you very much for you help.
Greg
If I was planning on keeping a car, and it had cracks in the windshield, I would probably get the windshield replaced. A cracked windshield might break more easily - a dangerous thing, and cracks tend to run. The last time I had a windshield replaced, the prices ran about $150 to above $300. It pays to shop around. I think I got mine replaced at SafeTLite.
mowslawn
escort93: Did you try posting your problem in a Maintenance & Repair topic?
I've been looking at many stores but I have no luck.
Do you know where I can find it?
When does the water pump need to be replaced? mine has 138,000 mileages and no problem so far.
Thanks.
Greg
It gave me plenty of warning - but I didn't get to the mechanic in time. The timing belt also drives the water pump. You may want to consider replacing it when you have the timing belt replaced. The mechanic will be right there. Or you can take a chance and leave it alone. Who knows it may go forever.
The water pumps that I have had have generally lasted 70-80,000 miles or so. That is why I get them replaced when I get the timing belt replaced - every 60,000 miles. Like riswami says, there is less labor if you get them both done at one time.
However, if my water pumps consistently lasted more than 138,000 miles, I would wait until they went bad. No sense replacing it if you don't need to. That hasn't been my experience though.
I've heard this is a fairly common problem for these cars and I'm interested in hearing how other Escort owners have handled this situation.
Has anyone gotten help from Ford?
If not, how much should I expect to pay?
Are there any related parts such as struts that will have to be replaced along with the springs?
Is it dangerous to drive until I have it fixed?
Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.
They arent expensive got one for free today (its for my gfs car).
Thanks
my temp gauge never rises above 1/3 of the way from c in any weather.
i hope that helps.
if your heat isn't sufficient, the only thing left is the heater core or heater controls, if you don't have enough heat after a warmup and have changed the thermostat.
is the temperature range of the new thermostat normal specs?
with escorts of our vintage, you have to remove the dash assembly to change the core, according to the factory shop manual.
that is a shame, my 1986 escort's heater core was easy to change..
there is a good bunch of people in the ford escort owners association message board, if you ever have questions.
hope to see you there.
good luck,
lee
Thanks again.
Thanks!
Hal
(you can post, or e-mail me at home--faulkner@hesenergy.net)